Vineyards

“Personally hand tending the vines and tilling the land give me the ultimate connection to the finished product.” – William Ballentine, Winemaker

The Land

A direct reflection of our soil composition along the lower slopes of Spring Mountain, ‘Cuvée Claire’ is cultivated from our 2.5 acre estate vineyard, which enjoys a historic legacy going back to the 1870s. The estate is comprised of a variety of soil types; silty loam and volcanic soils interlaced with black obsidian; our small vineyard is diverse and complex. These soils have excellent drainage which forces the cabernet vines to reach deep for their water and nutrients, what results is smaller, stressed berries which yield thicker skins and ultimately more concentrated flavors ensuring a rich and cellar worthy wine. “My Goal in the vineyard is to celebrate the distinct qualities that each of the varying soil types has to offer.”

Our winemaking practices are gentle and slow. “The timing of everything in the creation of our wine is based on taste,” William says. “There is no hard and fast schedule and no rush in the winemaking process. ‘Cuvée Claire’ is allowed to work its magic slowly, which we believe results in a complex, elegant wine that represents the best of Napa Valley.”